Why You Should Avoid Using Parentheses in Fiction Writing
Hello, fiction writers! Let's talk punctuation—specifically, the kind that slips into your story like it belongs in a textbook, not a novel: parentheses.
Those curved little brackets might be helpful in essays, blog posts (like this one 😅), and maybe your grocery list, but in fiction? Parentheses are one form of punctuation you're almost always better off avoiding.
Let's break down why parentheses don't work in most fiction, what to use instead, and how to rewrite those parenthetical moments so your prose stays smooth, immersive, and reader-friendly.
🧠 First Things First – What Are Parentheses?
Parentheses (or round brackets) are used to set off extra, clarifying, or explanatory information. Like this:
She couldn't find her phone (it was in her back pocket, as usual).
In nonfiction or casual writing, that's fine. It adds a side note or a chuckle. But in fiction—especially third-person or limited POV fiction—it breaks the flow and yanks readers out of your story.
🚨 Why Parentheses Don't Belong in Fiction
1. They Break Immersion
When writing fiction, your job is to create an immersive world. Readers want to sink into the moment—not be interrupted by what feels like the author whispering an aside through parentheses.
Example:
Tom kicked the door open (he'd always wanted to do that, like in the movies) and stormed inside.
It's not the worst line ever—but those parentheses feel like the narrator poked me on the shoulder while I read.
👉 Fix it:
Tom kicked the door open. He'd always wanted to do that—like in the movies.
Cleaner. More natural. No interruption.
2. They Mess with Tone
Parentheses often sound sarcastic or overly casual—two things that don't always fit your scene's tone.
Example (serious scene):
She stared at the coffin (the same one they picked out together last spring) and said nothing.
That parenthetical detail might be powerful—but the brackets undercut the emotional weight. They make it feel too clinical or self-aware.
👉 Fix it:
She stared at the coffin—the same one they'd picked out together last spring—and said nothing.
Now the line hits harder, right?
3. They're Lazy Substitutes for Strong Narrative
When we use parentheses in fiction, we're trying to cram in info that we didn't fully integrate into the narrative.
Example:
The car was messy (empty fast food wrappers, crumpled receipts, and a lonely sock on the dashboard).
It reads like a grocery list someone slapped in parentheses.
👉 Fix it:
The car was messy: empty fast food wrappers littered the floor, crumpled receipts filled the cup holders, and a single sock sat on the dashboard like a forgotten passenger.
Boom. Same info, but now it's alive.
💡 But What If It's First-Person? Can I Get Away With It Then?
That's a fair question! First-person narration often sounds like internal monologue, and yes, sometimes parentheses appear in casual thought-driven styles.
But here's the thing: you can still write internal thoughts without brackets.
Bad:
I hated math (who didn't?), but I needed to pass this exam.
Better:
I hated math—who didn't?—but I needed to pass this exam.
Or:
I hated math. Seriously, who didn't? But I needed to pass this exam.
Both options sound more natural and keep the flow strong.
✂️ When Can You Use Parentheses in Fiction? (Rarely, But Here's When)Emails, texts, or in-story documents: If your story includes written communication between characters, parentheses might appear for realism.Comedy or satire: If your style is intentionally self-aware, meta, or tongue-in-cheek, parentheses can be used sparingly for punchlines.Inside footnotes or faux-academic fiction: Think Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett. But even they preferred footnotes over parentheses for big asides. In short, it's safer to skip the brackets unless you're doing it for style and know what you're doing.
🛠️ Rewriting Parenthetical Moments – Quick Fixes
Let's fix a few awkward examples you might find in your own draft:
🔧 Example 1:
He was a regular at Joe's Diner (except on Tuesdays when he did his weird yoga thing).
✅ He was a regular at Joe's Diner—except on Tuesdays when he vanished for that weird yoga thing.
🔧 Example 2:
The book was heavy (and not just physically—it carried memories).
✅ The book was heavy. Not just physically. It carried memories.
🔧 Example 3:
She laughed (a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room).
✅ She laughed—a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room.
See how each fix keeps the meaning but ditches the clunky brackets?
🎬 Wrapping It Up
Parentheses might be handy for blog posts, side notes, or cheeky text messages, but in fiction writing? They're usually more trouble than they're worth.
They interrupt.
They dilute emotion.
They're almost always unnecessary.
If you're tempted to use parentheses in your manuscript, take a step back and ask: Is there a smoother way to say this? Odds are, there is.
Your turn! Have you ever overused parentheses in your writing (and regretted it)? Do you think there's ever a time they work in fiction? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear your take!
Those curved little brackets might be helpful in essays, blog posts (like this one 😅), and maybe your grocery list, but in fiction? Parentheses are one form of punctuation you're almost always better off avoiding.
Let's break down why parentheses don't work in most fiction, what to use instead, and how to rewrite those parenthetical moments so your prose stays smooth, immersive, and reader-friendly.
🧠 First Things First – What Are Parentheses?
Parentheses (or round brackets) are used to set off extra, clarifying, or explanatory information. Like this:
She couldn't find her phone (it was in her back pocket, as usual).
In nonfiction or casual writing, that's fine. It adds a side note or a chuckle. But in fiction—especially third-person or limited POV fiction—it breaks the flow and yanks readers out of your story.
🚨 Why Parentheses Don't Belong in Fiction
1. They Break Immersion
When writing fiction, your job is to create an immersive world. Readers want to sink into the moment—not be interrupted by what feels like the author whispering an aside through parentheses.
Example:
Tom kicked the door open (he'd always wanted to do that, like in the movies) and stormed inside.
It's not the worst line ever—but those parentheses feel like the narrator poked me on the shoulder while I read.
👉 Fix it:
Tom kicked the door open. He'd always wanted to do that—like in the movies.
Cleaner. More natural. No interruption.
2. They Mess with Tone
Parentheses often sound sarcastic or overly casual—two things that don't always fit your scene's tone.
Example (serious scene):
She stared at the coffin (the same one they picked out together last spring) and said nothing.
That parenthetical detail might be powerful—but the brackets undercut the emotional weight. They make it feel too clinical or self-aware.
👉 Fix it:
She stared at the coffin—the same one they'd picked out together last spring—and said nothing.
Now the line hits harder, right?
3. They're Lazy Substitutes for Strong Narrative
When we use parentheses in fiction, we're trying to cram in info that we didn't fully integrate into the narrative.
Example:
The car was messy (empty fast food wrappers, crumpled receipts, and a lonely sock on the dashboard).
It reads like a grocery list someone slapped in parentheses.
👉 Fix it:
The car was messy: empty fast food wrappers littered the floor, crumpled receipts filled the cup holders, and a single sock sat on the dashboard like a forgotten passenger.
Boom. Same info, but now it's alive.
💡 But What If It's First-Person? Can I Get Away With It Then?
That's a fair question! First-person narration often sounds like internal monologue, and yes, sometimes parentheses appear in casual thought-driven styles.
But here's the thing: you can still write internal thoughts without brackets.
Bad:
I hated math (who didn't?), but I needed to pass this exam.
Better:
I hated math—who didn't?—but I needed to pass this exam.
Or:
I hated math. Seriously, who didn't? But I needed to pass this exam.
Both options sound more natural and keep the flow strong.
✂️ When Can You Use Parentheses in Fiction? (Rarely, But Here's When)Emails, texts, or in-story documents: If your story includes written communication between characters, parentheses might appear for realism.Comedy or satire: If your style is intentionally self-aware, meta, or tongue-in-cheek, parentheses can be used sparingly for punchlines.Inside footnotes or faux-academic fiction: Think Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett. But even they preferred footnotes over parentheses for big asides. In short, it's safer to skip the brackets unless you're doing it for style and know what you're doing.
🛠️ Rewriting Parenthetical Moments – Quick Fixes
Let's fix a few awkward examples you might find in your own draft:
🔧 Example 1:
He was a regular at Joe's Diner (except on Tuesdays when he did his weird yoga thing).
✅ He was a regular at Joe's Diner—except on Tuesdays when he vanished for that weird yoga thing.
🔧 Example 2:
The book was heavy (and not just physically—it carried memories).
✅ The book was heavy. Not just physically. It carried memories.
🔧 Example 3:
She laughed (a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room).
✅ She laughed—a little too loudly if you asked anyone else in the room.
See how each fix keeps the meaning but ditches the clunky brackets?
🎬 Wrapping It Up
Parentheses might be handy for blog posts, side notes, or cheeky text messages, but in fiction writing? They're usually more trouble than they're worth.
They interrupt.
They dilute emotion.
They're almost always unnecessary.
If you're tempted to use parentheses in your manuscript, take a step back and ask: Is there a smoother way to say this? Odds are, there is.
Your turn! Have you ever overused parentheses in your writing (and regretted it)? Do you think there's ever a time they work in fiction? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear your take!
No comments have been added yet.
